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紅樓夢中王熙鳳個性化語言賞析

紅樓夢中王熙鳳個性化語言賞析

  曹雪芹的高超語言技巧,賦予了《紅樓夢》中每個人物極具個性化的語言風格,使每個人物的語言符合自己的性格特徵、社會地位和社會關係,避免了“千部一腔,千人一面”的尷尬。

  王熙鳳無疑是《紅樓夢》中塑造最為成功的人物之一。王熙鳳八面玲瓏,非常善於揣摩別人的心理。對下她說話聲言俱厲、落地有聲、八面威風;對上她投其所好、甜言蜜語、恭迎奉承;對於賈府的公子小姐,她又能與其打成一片。而她的語言技巧,就是一大法寶。因此,在翻譯中如何體現這種言語策略,將是翻譯的一大難題。本文將對比分析楊憲益和霍克斯英譯本,希望給讀者帶來一些啟發。

  例1、“依我說,竟別去碰這個釘子去……”

  楊譯:If I were you, I wouldn’t run my head against a brick wall……

  霍譯:I don’t thinkit’s worth trying. I think it would be merely asking for trouble……

  解析:王熙鳳言語一直將“我”放在話語的突出地位,說話總以“我”開頭。此句開頭便是“依我說”,體現了王熙鳳以自我為中心的性格特點。霍譯開門見山,用“I don’t think……”言語擲地有聲,凸顯了人物的特點。而楊譯則為虛擬語氣,減弱了人物的說話力量。

  例2、“依我說,老太太今兒喜歡,要討,今兒就討去。”

  楊譯:“As she’s in high spirits today,it seems to me now’s the time to make this request.”

  霍譯:“As a matter of fact, Grandma is in rather a good mood today, so if you are going to ask her, it would probably be best to do so straight away.”

  解析:此句和前一句雖然是兩種截然不同的主張,但都是以“依我說“開頭,再次體現了王熙鳳以自我為中心的性格。此句,霍譯並沒有提及“我”,減弱了話語的`力量,而楊譯用了“it seems to me”。

  例3、“你是素日知道我的,從來不信什麼陰司地域報應的;憑什麼事,我說要行就行。你叫他拿三千銀子來,我就替他出這口氣。”

  楊譯:“You know me”, she replied. “I’ve never believed all that talk about Hell and retribution. I do what I please and am always as good as my word. Let them bring me three thousand tales and I’ll see to this for them.

  霍譯:“You’ve known me for a long time,”she said. “You know that I’ve never believed all that talk about hell and damnation. If I decide that I want to do something I do it, no matter what it is. Tell them that if they are prepared to pay out three thousand tales of silver, I will undertake to relieve them of their trouble.”

  解析:從此句可以看出王熙鳳說話絲毫不留餘地,做人獨斷,盛氣凌人。兩種譯文翻譯得都很到位,相較而言,可能楊譯的譯文更為簡潔,更加體現了王熙鳳不拖泥帶水,乾脆利落的性格。

  例4、“誰叫老太太會調理人?調理的水蔥似的,怎麼怨得人要?我幸虧是孫子媳婦,我若是孫子,我早要了,還等到這會子呢!“

  楊譯:“Who told you, madam, to train your girls so well? If you bring one up as fresh as a spring of young parsley, you can’t blame people for wanting her. It’s lucky I’m a grandson’s wife. If I were a grandson I’d have grabbed her long time ago. I shouldn’t have waited till now.”

  霍譯:“You shouldn’t be so good at training your girls ,”said Xi-feng. “When you’ve brought up a beautiful young bulrush like Faithful, can you blame other people for wanting her? It’s a good job I’m only your granddaughter-in-law. If I had been your grandson, I should have asked you for her for myself a long time ago. I shouldn’t have waited till now, I can tell you!”

  解析:賈赦想娶賈母的侍女鴛鴦為妾,惹得賈母大發雷霆,大家一個個噤若寒蟬,唯獨王熙鳳卻說怪不得別人,要怪只能怪賈母自己。明面上是怪賈母,實則確實誇讚賈母,投其所好,以甜言蜜語討賈母歡心。兩種譯文都顯現了原文隱含的意思,增加了讚美程度,再現了一個八面玲瓏、伶牙俐齒的王熙鳳的形象。

  不論是楊憲益譯本還是霍克斯譯本,都較好地展現了王熙鳳的潑辣利索,八面玲瓏的特點。小說中的人物語言是體現人物性格和形象的重要手段,翻譯時要深刻理解人物的個性,把握人物語言的風格,不僅要領會人物語言表層的含義,更要挖掘隱含在這種形式下的思想。